Entertainment

Does Sony Want to Make You Pay to Charge Your Gadgets? [VIDEO]

Sony is developing power outlet technology that will track energy consumption. The next logical step? Charging users by how much energy they consume while charging their smartphones, laptops and other devices.

The technology uses IC chips to authenticate users of power outlets, according to a press release, determining the identity of people who plug in and whether or not they should be allowed to do so. While that advance in hardware capability could lead to better energy conservation, it could also be used to gouge digital-minded travelers and people who work out of cafes and other public places.

"Such as deployment to the waiting room or airport lounge cafes and restaurants, the station can be expected," reads a Google translation of Sony's Japanese press release.

Sony demonstrated the technology on Tuesday in Tokyo, according to IDG News. IDG News reports that Sony has not set a date for when the technology will become available, but that the company "hopes to cooperate with appliance makers, power companies, and large infrastructure developers in rolling it out."

While Sony says the authenticating power strips will utilize technology and hardware already in use elsewhere, implementing such a plan would require adding adapters to outlets if not replacing the outlets themselves. But Sony is also developing technology that could enable just one "reader" to monitor an entire household, IDG News reports.

Would you be willing to pay to charge your smartphone like you do to fill up your gas tank? Let us know in the comments.

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